The Cupping Room Café

Credit the Cupping Room’s 30-year Soho run to ample portions of trustworthy chow, a location in shopper’s heaven and a willingness to try new things—like live jazz on Friday nights. Start with chunky gazpacho or an arugula, walnut and apple salad. Pass on the gussied-up pasta dishes in favor of an enormous salad, customized burger or a sandwich piled on house-made focaccia. Lighter fare is available at a pared-down, take-away outpost in the West Village.